During the interregnum it may be necessary to change the pattern of services from time to time at fairly short notice. This would be to enable visiting clergy to hold a communion service.

From the Registers

Funeral

The funeral of Edna Lightfoot, aged 84, took place on Friday 3rd November. She worked as a valet at Michael Kiernan Cars and was often seen around the village on her paper round or walking with her dog. She and her husband Harry celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2011. We extend our thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.

Christmas Services

We hope you will be able to join us to celebrate Christmas at St Laurence’s or St John’s. Please check the list at the top of this page to ensure you know when and where services are being held.

Christmas Tree Festival

We invite you to experience the magnificent sight of sixty Christmas trees, in or around the church, decorated by church members, community organisations, groups or individuals, plus other decorations suspended from above, which will fill St Laurence’s with light and colour. The church will be open from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 2nd, 9th and 16th December and from 12.00 noon to 6.00 p.m. on Sunday 3rd, 10th and 17th December.

The entry charge is £2.00 per person, with accompanied children under 12 free. The proceeds will be in aid of the church, with a donation of 20% being given to Mary Ann Evans Hospice.

If an organisation or group wishes to visit on a week day, this may be possible. Please contact 01827 874520.

A Remembrance Tree gives the opportunity to write the names of loved ones on star shapes to hang on this tree. The £1.00 charge will go towards the cost of cutting the churchyard grass, which is £260 a time at the moment.

While visiting the church you could write a prayer to peg to the Prayer Tree in the vestry and light a candle, if you wish. These prayers will be brought to the Lord over the Christmas season.

Throughout the festival there will be tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and mince pies available in the annexe. There will also be a raffle for a Christmas cake. Donations of mince pies will be much appreciated. We would also be grateful for help with stewarding or selling refreshments at this busy time. Let a church member know if you can help, or contact 01827 874520.

Please help to publicise this event. There are fliers and posters available from church members or you may wish to forward the internet link below to family and friends. Click on the Ansley Church November magazine option.

hhtp://ansleychurch.org/articles/articles.php?id=616

Retiring Collection

A sum of £120.50 has been sent for Rohingya refugees from Rakhine in Myanmar following an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Christmas Raffle

By the time you read this, our Christmas raffle will have been drawn and the lucky winners will know who they are!

Christmas Tree Festival Quiz

This year’s quiz is now available and copies will be in the annexe during the Tree Festival. For the price of £1.00 you can test your brain power! The prize is a £10 book voucher. The closing date is 10th January 2018. If there are several entries with the same highest score, a winning name will be drawn from a hat after one of our Sunday services.

Concert at St Laurence’s

We are delighted to inform you that, as for the last few years, Jess and Richard Arrowsmith, with Jo Maher, will be entertaining us in church on Friday 22nd December at 7.30 p.m. Tickets will be £10 for adults and £5 for children, with under fives free. The mix of traditional English music with a Christmas theme makes for a very enjoyable evening. Mulled wine, mince pies and other refreshments will be provided during the interval.

Operation Christmas Child

We are pleased to announce that, in the middle of November, 24 shoeboxes, decorated and filled with small items, were sent off to be given to children who have few possessions.

Quarter Peal

On Wednesday 15th November the Coventry Guild rang a quarter peal of Bob Doubles at St Laurence’s church. This was in honour of the 70th Wedding Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip. The Guild aim to complete 70 quarter peals around the Diocese.

Visiting Ringers

The Four Shires bell ringers visited St Laurence’s on Thursday 16th November and rang a variety of methods.

Acorn Children’s Hospice

As in previous years, we presented the Flower Festival donation to the Acorn Children’s Hospice at our Harvest Festival. The same amount, £467.50, was also presented to the Nuneaton Hospital League of Friends. Joanne, from the Hospice, advised us that one of their children, who has endured much, was awarded the Teenager of Courage at the Pride of Britain Awards 2017. They are all very proud of this and the following link will enable you to see Moin’s story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUNhkwCKxOM&feature=youtube

St John’s Events

The Christmas Fayre on Saturday 25th December was well attended and was an enjoyable social occasion. Places are fully booked for their Christmas Party on 15th December.

Benefice Joint Meeting

A meeting was held on Thursday 16th November in The Barn at St Wilfrid’s, Old Arley led by the Reverend Frank Seldon, Nuneaton Area Dean. An open invitation had been given to members and officers of the churches in Old and New Arley, Ansley and Ansley Common. Quite a number of parishes in the Diocese are in need of a vicar, but there is a shortage of candidates available. There may be the opportunity to have a curate in our Benefice on a half time basis. A unanimous decision was taken at the meeting to explore this possibility further. This suggestion will need to be discussed by PCCs and could not be implemented for several months. We ask for your continued prayers as we seek to make the best plans possible to care for God’s people in this place and at this time.

If you would like someone or a particular situation remembered in prayer at our Sunday Services, both at St. Laurence’s and at St. John’s, please hand the slip below to a member of the church congregation or contact a warden. Phone numbers are on the front page of this magazine. Please remember that a visit can be arranged to anyone who is sick, but the wardens do need to know, so again please ring.

We have are now able to announce that the Rev. John Langlands will be joining us on the 3rd June 2018 details of arrangements will follow in due course. John's message is below Rev’d
John & Frances Langlands
For the past 9 yea...

As from 5th June 2016 Rev. Peter Allan has retired. However the life of the church will continue, although there may be a few changes. If you want to contact the church please do so via the web link or email. Alternatively please telephone one of the church wardens Margaret Antill 01827 874520 or Moreen Freestone 024 7638 1833 one of the deputies Diana Kealey 024 7639 5089 or Margaret Oliver 01455 822822 all will be happy to help in any way they can.

February, 2018Well, here we are 2018, looking forward, but not knowing what lies ahead. Technology has gone forward at such a pace that older people cannot keep up with it and certainly don’t understand it. There are watches which can answer back, never mind their purpose to tell the time. We have gadgets which can answer questions and obey commands a...